Honoring a 35 year tradition, new National Team Director Frank Busch will lead off the ASCA Clinic on Wed. evening, 7-8:30 Pm (Sept. 7) along with Head Men's Coach Gregg Troy and Head Women's Coach Teri McKeever.

The three leaders of our 2012 Olympic Team are expected to discuss USA prospects and needs for 2012, as well as Coach Busch's vision for the future of our USA National Team.

In every year prior to the Olympic Games dating back to 1975, the leader of the USA Olympic Team has provided the keynote for the ASCA World Clinic. We're happy to see Coach Busch decide to continue that tradition.

The clinic will include over 40 speakers this year. Registration information can be found here.

Open Water and Long Distance?

Have Your Swimmers Expanded their Horizons?

If any of your swimmers are experiencing frustration with their progress in the pool, you may want to present them with an alternative-- something to spice up their swimming until they get their mojo back. Something new to focus on is always a great way to keep things fresh. The open water and long distance season is upon us, and you can learn all about our national championship events on the Open Water and Long Distance page at usms.org.

2012 FINA Worlds Coaching Staff

Frank Marcinkowski Chosen as Head Coach for Italy

Frank Marcinkowski, head coach of Curl Burke Masters in Washington DC, has been selected as the head coach for Worlds 2012 in Italy. Although USMS swimmers will be representing their own USMS club teams, a USMS coach is on hand to offer support and coaching to all USMS athletes.

Marcinkowski began competitive swimming at the age of 16 and went on to swim and play water polo at the University of Notre Dame. He has been coaching since 1977 and serves on the Open Water Committee and is active on both the clinics and the safety subcommittees. He also chairs the coaches committee for the Potomac Valley LMSC. Marcinkowski worked with the USMS Coaches Committee and the Club Development representatives in developing and teaching the pilot course for the new Masters Levels 1 and 2 coaching certification.

Open Water Coaching Tip

bySteven Munatones

Acclimation is the Key

The best thing that coaches can do for their swimmers who are entered in open water swims is to help them acclimate. This means that coaches must encourage them to get out of the pool and practice in open bodies of water. If the water is cold, the coach can swim with, paddle for or kayak with their swimmer in water that is comparable to the waterway they expect to swim in. If the water is expected to be very warm, the coach can encourage the athlete to practice in a pool with a wetsuit. If no access to open water is available, the coach can conduct POW (Pool Open Water) training sessions by removing the lane lines and asking the swimmers to swim around the perimeter of the pool around turn buoys positioned in the corners. Cold, warm, rough or long, there are many simple ways a coach can help their athletes acclimate to open water competitions.

What Rule is THAT?!

withKathy Casey

Breaststroke underwater pullout rule

The Coach Asks:A couple of my swimmers have been arguing over the interpretation of the rule for the breaststroke underwater pullout with a butterfly kick.One says the arm pull begins as soon as the hands separate and the other says that the arm pull doesn't begin until the hands are at the widest part of the stroke.Please define exactly when that arm pull begins thus allowing a butterfly kick.

Answer: The USMS rule for the breaststroke pullout with the dolphin kick (101.2.3) states that a single butterfly kick is permitted during or at the completion of the first arm pull. The official interpretation of when that first arm pull begins is:

"For purposes of Article 101.2.3, as it relates to what constitutes the initiation of the first arm pull and the allowed single downward butterfly kick, the following applies: After the start and after each turn, any downward or outward lateral movement of the hands or arms is considered to be the initiation of the first arm pull."

The confusion is caused because that first arm pull begins as soon as there is any downward or lateral movement of the hands or arms (allowing a butterfly kick), but for the second arm pull, the head must break the surface at least by the widest part of the arm pull before the hands turn inward (101.2.2, last sentence) not as soon as the hands separate.

USMS maintains a discussion forum on usms.org to match up coaches and teams. The Coaching Forum has several current threads posted; check back for frequently for updates. And remember, if you are hired in a position or you hire a coach, please update your posting to save time for others who follow you to this helpful forum.

Please Support USMS Partners!

Affinity Partners

Media Partners

About Us

About U.S. Masters Swimming

U.S. Masters Swimming, founded in 1970, is
a membership-operated national governing body that promotes adult
health, fitness, wellness and competition through aquatics. It does so
by partnering with more than 1,000 adult swim programs across the
country; promoting information via the bi-monthly member magazine, SWIMMER, monthly e-newsletter, STREAMLINES, and usms.org;
and by sanctioning and promoting pool, open water and virtual
competitions. More than 50,000 adults are registered members of U.S.
Masters Swimming.

About STREAMLINES for Coaches

U.S. Masters Swimming encourages all U.S. Masters Swimming coaches to subscribe to STREAMLINES for Coaches. However if you would rather not receive this update, please do not click the unsubscribe button, as that will remove you from all other U.S. Masters Swimming National Office mailings. Rather, please click on the "Update Profile/Email Address" link at the bottom of this email. Here you can select to discontinue your STREAMLINES for Coaches service or sign up for the monthly members' newsletter, STREAMLINES, and/or STREAMLINES for Volunteers, a quarterly publication.